Couriers load packages onto vehicles as other packages move down the belt at the FedEx station in Marina del Rey, Calif. Online shopping made a big mark on FedEx's business this year, as more retailers are offering later-guaranteed arrivals than ever.

Fred Prouser
/ Reuters /Landov

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Originally published on December 22, 2011 5:36 pm

This week marks the busiest time of the year for shipping services like UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service. The post office handled 600 million cards and letters alone on Tuesday, and UPS says it is delivering 300 packages per second, on average.

At one FedEx facility in Washington, D.C., the logistics of last-minute shipping are on full display.

Packages that traveled by plane overnight arrive on freight trucks before dawn. Workers shuffle and sift them at a rate of 166 per minute, as conveyor belts that look something like small highways carry them through the large warehouse.

"You see a lot of those bags that come [from] either Old Navy or even Amazon," says Paul Meilinger, the station manager. "People ordering outfits, clothes — we've had times where Christmas trees will come through here."

Meilinger's biggest worry, he says, is snowstorms and delivery trucks stuck in traffic; FedEx relies on its own meteorologists in that regard.

He says it also uses technologies that didn't exist when he started many years ago. Back then, they'd use crayons to indicate on the box where it should go — now they use labels that tell workers exactly where each package is headed, he says.

"It's routed by identifier. We've got belts. Years ago it [was] rollers, and we'd push 'em," he says. "So a lot has changed. And certainly if we didn't have this type of equipment, there'd be no way we could handle this amount of freight."

There are also suitcases shipped by travelers avoiding baggage fees.

Many, if not most, of the packages streaming by bear the names of online brands. Online shopping made a big mark on FedEx's business this year. More online retailers are offering later-guaranteed arrivals than ever, even for orders placed Friday evening. It's a procrastinator's paradise.

'I Feel Like Santa Claus'

But it does up the ante for drivers like Daryl Anderson. Standing toward the tail end of the conveyor belt, he's picking off packages bound for his delivery area.

Anderson scans the items using a hand-held scanner, then arranges them in his truck in the order he plans to deliver them, from back to front. He's wearing a purple hat with a FedEx logo and a pompom — a corporate twist on a North Pole classic.

"I feel like Santa Claus," Anderson says with a chuckle.

He's adapted to managing the crush of packages: Use your legs, not your back. He's also developed a photographic memory, but only as it applies to addresses.

"It's a funny thing — sometimes you dream addresses," he says. "It's like you already know which packages you have, and somehow if you skip over that package, you'd be like, 'Hold up, I know I have this package.' It's just funny how in this business, you're pretty much programmed."

Just after daybreak, two hours after sorting began, a few leftover packages amble down the belts. Anderson and the other drivers prepare to take off.

Meilinger, the station manager, takes stock of the scene with a satisfied nod. His workday starts at 4 a.m. and ends 14 hours later. If last-minute shipping makes his job more hectic, he admits, he's part of the problem.

"People like me, they keep waiting. 'Oh, it's Friday, I still got one more day. I can still get it there for Christmas!' " he says.

He's still not done with his Christmas shopping — in fact, he says he hasn't even started yet. But when he does do so, he'll go with FedEx, naturally. "Absolutely. That's the only way it's going to get there. I don't trust anybody else," he says.

Meanwhile, Anderson's truck approaches capacity, and he lowers the door with a rattle. And with that, this Santa has left the station.

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LYNN NEARY, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Lynn Neary.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

And I'm Robert Siegel. This week is the busiest time of the year for shipping services, such as UPS, FedEx and the post office. Just this Tuesday, the post office handled 600 million cards and letters. UPS says it is delivering, on average, 300 packages per second. NPR's Yuki Noguchi got a firsthand view of some last-minute shipping at a FedEx facility in Washington, D.C.

(SOUNDBITE OF MACHINERY)

YUKI NOGUCHI, BYLINE: Packages that traveled by plane overnight arrive here on freight trucks before dawn. Workers shuffle and sift them at a rate of 166 per minute as conveyor belts - looking like small highways - carry them through this large warehouse.

PAUL MEILINGER: You see a lot of those bags that come - either Old Navy or even Amazon - people ordering outfits, clothes. We've had times when Christmas trees will come through here.

NOGUCHI: Paul Meilinger is the station manager. His biggest worry, he says, is snowstorms and delivery trucks stuck in traffic. FedEx relies on its own meteorologists. Meilinger says it also uses technologies that didn't exist when he started many years ago.

MEILINGER: Years ago, it was a crayon that you would put on a box. Now, we've got labels that tell us exactly where it's supposed to go. It's routed by identifier. We've got belts. Years ago, it's rollers, and we'd push them. So a lot has changed. And certainly, if we didn't have this type of equipment, there'd be no way we can handle this amount of freight.

NOGUCHI: There are suitcases shipped by travelers avoiding baggage fees. Many, if not most, of the packages streaming by bear the names of online brands. Online shopping made a big mark on FedEx's business this year. More online retailers are offering later guaranteed arrivals than ever, even for orders placed tomorrow evening. It's a procrastinator's paradise. But it does up the ante for drivers like Daryl Anderson. Standing towards the tail end of the conveyor belt, he's picking off packages bound for his delivery area.

Anderson scans the items using a handheld scanner, then arranges them in his truck in the order he plans to deliver them: from back to front. He's wearing a purple hat with a FedEx logo and a pompom, a corporate twist on a North Pole classic.

DARYL ANDERSON: So, you know, I feel like Santa Claus.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Yeah.

NOGUCHI: Anderson has adapted to managing the crush of packages: Use your legs, not your back. He's also developed a photographic memory but only as it applies to addresses.

ANDERSON: It's a funny thing. Sometimes you dream addresses. You know, it's like you already know.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: You already know which packages you have. And somehow if you skip over that package, you'd be like, hold up, I know I have this package. So it's just funny how in this business you're just - you're pretty much programmed.

NOGUCHI: It's now just after daybreak, two hours after sorting began. A few leftover packages amble down the belts as Anderson and the other drivers prepare to take off. Meilinger, the station manager, takes stock of the scene with a satisfied nod. His workday starts at 4 a.m. and ends 14 hours later. If last-minute shipping makes his job more hectic, he admits he's part of the problem.

MEILINGER: People like me, they keep waiting. Oh, it's Friday. I still got one more day. I can still get it there for Christmas.

NOGUCHI: So are you done with your Christmas shopping?

MEILINGER: I haven't started yet.

NOGUCHI: Are you going to FedEx all those packages?

MEILINGER: Absolutely. That's the only way it's going to get there. I don't trust anybody else.